Base board radiator support heat exchanger



Oct. 13, 1964 B. RONN ETAL 3,152,637

BASE BOARD RADIATOR SUPPORT HEAT EXCHANGER Filed July 25, 1962 United States Patent 3,152,637 BASE BOARD RADIATGR SUPPORT HEAT EXCHANGER Benjamin Ronn, Palisades Park, N "I and Richard Steinberg, Bronx, and Chester B. Cotton, New York, N.Y., assignors to Slant/ Fin Radiator Corporation, Richmond Hill, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed July 25, 1962, Ser. No. 212,268 Ciaims. (Cl. 16582) The present invention relates to heat-exchange apparatus, particularly to baseboard installations using finand-tube heat-exchange units. The invention could be applied to such baseboard apparatus adapted for cooling, by circulating a coolant through the tube of the unit, but the description below relates to a radiator as part of a circulating hot-Water heating system widely in use.

Baseboard radiators commonly include an enclosure and a fin-and-tube heat-exchanger in the enclosure. The enclosure has a front wall and a back wall, but it is open at the bottom and it is controllably open at the top. Resulting convection currents of air past the fin-and-tube unit are responsible for most of the heat transfer that occurs, some small amount of heating being by radiation.

The temperature of the radiator installation changes cyclically, as heating is called for and interrupted under thermostat control. The temperature of the enclosure is roughly constant, but the fin-and-tube unit has widely changing temperatures. As a result, the fin-and-tube unit gets longer and shorter. Parts of an installation may involve a quarter-inch of shift of the fins, locally, relative to the enclosure at that point. Scraping noises, and pings could occur under these circumstances. This problem has been faced in various Ways heretofore, with varied success functionally and with various complex and costly supporting devices for the fin-and-tube unit.

Accordingly, it is an important object of this invention to provide a new and improved heat exchanger suitable for baseboard installation. More specifically, it is an object of the invention to provide a baseboard radiator having novel supporting means for the elongated fin-andtube unit, the supporting means being inexpensive and being adapted to non-critical and rapid assembly, having the further characteristic of remarkable quietness despite expansions and contractions due to temperature cycling.

In the illustrative embodiment of the invention described below and shown in the accompanying drawings, a finand-tube unit is supported in an enclosure that has top and bottom openings for convection currents. Brackets provide local support at a number of spaced points along the fin-and-tube unit. At each bracket, the fin-and-tube unit is gripped by a plastic member that is mechanically assembled to the unit and which guards against scraping contact of the fins against the supporting bracket. Additionally, the series of plastic members spaced along the fin-and-tube unit guard against unintended engagement of the fins with the metal back wall and front cover of the enclosure. The plastic is non-sticking and glides silently along the enclosure and across the supporting bracket during usual expansions of the tube. Being tough yet deformable, and in that sense soft, there is no tendency for scraping or other noises to be created or to be transmitted. The assembly is rapid during manufacture, the novel supporting parts are inexpensive, and the construction is both highly effective and practical.

The nature of the invention will be more fully appreciated from the description that follows, in which reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part of the disclosure of this embodiment of the invention.

In the drawings:

, FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a baseboard radiator, showing a typical longitudinal portion thereof and a further portion with enclosure parts broken away to reveal the interior;

FIG. 2 is a transverse vertical cross-section of the radiator of FIG. 1 at the plane 2-2; and

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a component in FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a typical portion of a unitlength of baseboard radiator, commonly made in standard six-foot sections. The radiator includes an enclosure and a fin-and-tube heat-exchange unit. The enclosure comprises rear wall 10 that has an integral top ledge, and this, in turn, has a depending portion 14 forming a convection guide surface. The bottom edge 16 of rear wall 10 is curled upward sharply.

A bracket (FIG. 2) includes a vertical strip 18 of sheet-metal against the back wall 10, the lower end of which is captive in curled portion 16 of the back wall. At the upper end of strip 18 there is a forward extending bracket arm and the upper end of the bracket is held against wall 10 by engagement of convection guide porttion 14 with the corner defined by strip 18 and bracket arm 20. A second arm 22 extends forward from strip 18.

The enclosure includes a front cover 24 that is held in position by interlocking engagement with complementary formations on brackets 20 and 22. A vane 26 is supported adjustably by bracket arm 20. Vane 26 is angularly adjustable from the open position shown to a closedf position in which it extends (nearly horizontally) from the top edge of front cover 24 to surface 14.

The fin-and-tube unit in the enclosure is supported by plural bracket arms 22 (FIG. 1) on plural brackets that are distributed at suitable intervals along the radiator. The fin-and-tube unit includes a pipe 28 as of copper to which there is secured a large number of generally rectangular close-spaced fins 30. These fins have vertical edge formations that provide for mechanical strength and stability, but the top and bottom edges of the fins are in a plane containing the main fiat vertical heat-exchange surface of the fins. Accordingly, there is a free vertical passage between each fin and its neighbors through which convection currents of air can pass, for extracting heat from the heat exchange unit. Rising convection currents of air develop when pipe 28 contains hot water, the air entering the bottom of the enclosure and passing upward past the unit 28, 30 and flowing out the top of the enclosure at the opposite sides of vane 26 when open.

There is some clearance between fins 30 and cover 24, and there is also some clearance between fins 30 and back wall 10. These clearances allow air currents to flow and extract heat from edge formations of the fins, and the clearances also avoid undesirable heat conduction to cover 24 and wall It However, if these clearances were too large, part of the thermally induced air currents would bypass fins 30 and would correspondingly reduce the effectiveness or heat-transferring capacity of the radiator. For this reason, it is important to avoid more than a reasonable minimum of clearance.

Fin-and-tube unit 28, 30 rests on portions of members 32 supported on bracket arms 22. Each member 32 includes a bottom portion comprising ribs 34, and connecting strips 36 (FIG. 3). Side portions of member 32 include long portions 38 that keep ribs 34 in position along the assembly of fins 30, and the side portions of member 32 include strips 40 that have extensions 42 and 44 across the top of the fins. A headed detent 46, integral with extension 42, extends through a hole in extension 44. The dimensions of member 32' are such as to firmly embrace and grip the edges of the fins..

Member 32 may be made of any of a wide variety of plastics, which should be tough and should have a low coefficient of friction, and in particular it should have no tendency to stick to parts that it touches. The plastic should be deformable or soft in the sense of not producing Patented Oct. 13, 1964 orv transmitting noises when touched or scraped by the metal parts of the baseboard radiator. The material should should also withstand the operating temperatures. Polypropylene ,isparticularly well-suited to .the purpose, having theforegoing qualities and being readily formed by molding. .Examples of other suitable materials are nylon and polyethylene. a

A number ofthin sections. 48 .form hinges that flex readilyand facilitate instant assembly of members 32 to the fins whereineededr vElsewhere, portions 38 and 40 are about 0.04 inch thick, in a practical embodiment. This thickness spaces the enclosed fins from front cover 24 and rear Wall 10, and avoids the possibility of scraping noises developing at such places where metal-to-metal contact could occur. The fins are aligned relatively uniformly, andele ments and 24 are relatively straight. However because thefin-and-tube unit of each section of radiator is joined to that. of the next unit, the front-toback location ofany one fin-and-tube unit in its enclosure may vary to a. certain, extent. Members 32 not only separate the fins that are embraced by portions 33 and 4t? from the front cover 24 .and the back wall 10, but these members also provide insurance against other fins along the finfand-tube unit coming'into contact with the back wall and thefront cover.

It is important that. the fin-and-tube unit should be capable of.moving lengthwise, i.e., across support arms 22, without making asound. Any such noise is to be carefully avoided, particularly since the radiator should be suitable for use everywhere, even in a bedroom where even, low-level noise could. be seriously objectionable. Such motion occurs cyclically to a limited extent, as a result of temperature cycling of the water in the radiator, under-control of .a. thermostat. Tube 23 expands and contracts, and. since the tube is fixed at one point in an installation, the. rest of. the interconnected sections of tube in the installation shift the fins carried thereby transversely on the several support arms 22. Plastic ribs 34 guard against any noise occurring at this point. Plastic parts 38 and 40 also guard against scraping noises developing at wall 10 or cover 24 such as might occur without such silencing spacers.

Ribs 34. of member32 are long enough for non-critical location of the members '32 on the .fin-and-tube units, but because they are localized at each supporting member 22 and occupy. only abouttwo inches of the length of such units, they do not appreciably reduce the heat-transfer efficiency of the radiator. Strips 36 may be only A inch wide, and thus obstruct only a nominal amount of corn vection space. I

From the foregoing, it will be recognized that the radiator assembly described is particularly effective in achieving quiet operation, yet is of low-cost parts and is quickly and easilyassembled. vVariations in matters of detail may readily. occur to those skilled in the art, and consequently the invention should be broadly construed in accordance with its full spirit and scope.

What is claimed is:

1. Baseboard heat-exchange apparatus including a heat-exchange unit comprising an elongated tube and a close-spacedseries ofgenerally rectangular transverse fins fixed tosaid -tube,,and a horizontally elongated enclosure for said unit, said enclosure including a plurality of supporting bracketsspaced apartalong said heat-exchange unit, a back wall and a front cover close to but spaced from said fins,. and.a plurality of tough but deformable plastic members embracing. said unit and spaced apart along said heat-exchange unit and localized at said brackets, respectively, each said plastic member including a supporting portion under said unit and on a corresponding one of said brackets and each plastic member having respective portions interposed between said heat-exchange unit and said front cover and between said heat-exchange unit and said rear wall for insuring at least minimum spacing of said unit from said enclosure.

2. Baseboard heat-exchange apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein said plastic member is formed of polypropylene.

3. Baseboard heat-exchange apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein said plastic member is formed of nylon.

4. Baseboard heat-exchange apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein said plastic member is formed of polyethylene.

5. Baseboard heat-exchange apparatus including a heat-exchange unit comprising an elongated tube and a close-spaced series of generally rectangular transverse fins fixed to said tube, and a horizontally elongated enclosure for said unit, said enclosure including a plurality of supporting brackets spaced apart along said heat-exchange unit, and a plurality of plastic members embracing said unit and localized at said supporting brackets, respectively, each said member including a supporting portion under said unit and portions extending from said supporting portion and tightly wrapped around said unit so as to include front and back portions interposed between said unit and both the-back wall and the front cover of the enclosure, said members being of a plastic having a low coeflicient of friction.

6. Baseboard heat-exchange apparatus including a heat-exchange unit comprising an elongated tube and a close-spaced series of generally rectangular transverse fins fixed to said tube, and a horizontally elongated enclosure for said unit, said enclosure including a plurality of supporting brackets spaced apart along said heat-exchange unit, a back wall and a front cover at opposite sides of said unit, and a plurality of tough, deformable plastic members spaced apart along said heat-exchange unit and localized at said supporting brackets, respectively, each said plastic member including at least one relatively narrow supporting portion under and along said unit, and integral portions extending from said supporting portion including narrow strips extending vertically at both sides of the heat-exchange unit and across the top of the unit so that the strips overlap one another, and interlocking formations securing said strips to each other where they overlap.

7. Baseboard heat-exchange apparatus including a heat-exchange unit comprising an elongated tube and a close-spaced series of generally rectangular transverse fins fixed to said tube, and a horizontally elongated enclosure for said unit, said enclosure including a plurality of supporting brackets spaced apart along said heat-exchange unit and a back Wall and a front cover at opposite sides of said unit, and a plurality of tough deformable plastic members spaced apart along said heat-exchange unit and localized at said supporting brackets, respectively, each said plastic member including a supporting portion under said unit and on a corresponding one of said brackets, said supporting portion including a pair of relatively narrow portions spaced apart transversely of said heatexchange unit and each of said narrow portions extending along said heat-exchange unit and bearing downwardly directed ribs and said supporting portion having a pair of narrow transverse strips interconnecting said narrow rib-bearing portions, respective narrow straps extending integrally from said rib-bearing portions and upward at opposite sides of said heat-exchange unit and across the top of said heat-exchange unit into overlapping relationship and said straps having mutually interlocking formations, said narrow straps being of substantial thickness to provide assurance that if any contact with the back wall or the front cover should occur, such contact will be with said plastic member rather than with said fins.

8. A supporting member for a rectangular-fin fin-andtube heat exchanger adapted to overlie support brackets within an enclosure, said member including a bottom portion having widely spaced portions bearing downwardly directed parallel ribs about two inches long and transverse strips interconnecting said rib-bearing portions, respective straps extending upward from said rib-bearing portions and adapted to lie against the sides and across the top of a rectangular-fin heat exchanger in mutually overlapping relationship, said straps having complementary interlock formations for securing said member to a heat exchanger, said straps being of substantial thickness and having transverse portions of reduced thickness adapted to function as hinges during assembly of the supporting member to a heat exchanger, said member being of a tough, deformable plastic having a low coeflicient of surface friction.

9. Baseboard heat-exchange apparatus, including a heat-exchange unit comprising an elongated tube and a close-spaced series of transverse fins fixed to and individually surrounding said tube, and a horizontally elongated enclosure for said heat-exchange unit including front and back walls and having a plurality of supporting metal brackets spaced apart along said heat-exchange unit, and a plurality of tough plastic members embracing said heatexchange unit and interposed between said heat-exchange unit and said brackets and being in sliding contact with the brackets, said plastic members being mutually spaced apart and being localized at said brackets respectively, and being of a material having a low surface coefiicient of friction.

10. Baseboard heat-exchange apparatus, including a heat-exchange unit comprising an elongated tube and a close-spaced series of transverse fins fixed to and individually surrounding said tube, and a horizontally elongated enclosure for said heat-exchange unit including front and back walls and having a plurality of supporting brackets below said heat-exchange unit and spaced apart along said heat-exchange unit and a plurality of tough deformable plastic members, each such member peripherally embracing a localized group of the fins of said heat-exchange unit, each of said members including a bottom portion interposed between and in contact with said heatexchange unit and a respective one of said brackets and further including portions in front of and back of said heat-exchange unit providing assurance against direct contact between the peripheral edges of the fins of said heatexchange unit with any part of said enclosure that confront said heat-exchange unit, and top portions extending from said front and back portions, fastening means joining said top portions together and thereby securing each said plastic member about a localized group of said fins,

said portions of said member all being of a unitary piece of plastic material having a low surface coeflicient of friction.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,342,958 Morehouse Feb. 29, 1944 2,366,041 Morehouse Dec. 26, 1944 2,963,276 Nelson Dec. 6, 1960 

1. BASEBOARD HEAT-EXCHANGE APPARATUS INCLUDING A HEAT-EXCHANGE UNIT COMPRISING AN ELONGATED TUBE AND A CLOSE-SPACED SERIES OF GENERALLY RECTANGULAR TRANSVERSE FINS FIXED TO SAID TUBE, AND A HORIZONTALLY ELONGATED ENCLOSURE FOR SAID UNIT, SAID ENCLOSURE INCLUDING A PLURALITY OF SUPPORTING BRACKETS SPACED APART ALONG SAID HEAT-EXCHANGE UNIT, A BACK WALL AND A FRONT COVER CLOSE TO BUT SPACED FROM SAID FINS, AND A PLURALITY OF TOUGH BUT DEFORMABLE PLASTIC MEMBERS EMBRACING SAID UNIT AND SPACED APRAT ALONG SAID HEAT-EXCHANGE UNIT AND LOCALIZED AT SAID BRACKETS, RESPECTIVELY, EACH SAID PLASTIC MEMBER INCLUDING A SUPPORTING PORTION UNDER SAID UNIT AND ON A CORRESPONDING ONE OF SAID BRACKETS AND EACH PLASTIC MEMBER HAVING RESPECTIVE PORTIONS INTERPOSED BETWEEN SAID HEAT-EXCHANGE UNIT AND SAID FRONT COVER AND BETWEEN SAID HEAT-EXCHANGE UNIT AND SAID REAR WALL FOR INSURING AT LEAST MINIMUM SPACING OF SAID UNIT FROM SAID ENCLOSURE. 